L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 136

“Thank you for your patronage.”

The manager of the jewelry store bowed respectfully as he saw off the special customer who had purchased the wedding ring. Ashley put the ring case in his suit pocket and headed toward his car.

Today, he was going to propose to Melanie. There had already been some talk about it, so she probably expected it to some degree. Even if she didn’t, it made sense since they had been meeting with marriage in mind, and it was natural for a day like this to come.

What surprised him was that he had developed a rather strong affection for her. Unlike his previous thoughts, where he assumed marriage would just lead to repetitive, dull days, he now had a feeling that things might be different with her.

That’s because over the past few months of dating Melanie, he had felt a sense of stability and comfort, along with a light fluttering in his chest—a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. This sense of reassurance made Ashley even more certain that he wanted to propose to her. Of course, Dominic would not object, so everything was proceeding smoothly. When Ashley suggested getting married as soon as he graduated, he readily agreed.

She’s the one.

Ashley had met a few people before, but none had made him feel this way. Whenever he was with Melanie, he felt good. He couldn’t even explain why she was so special, but he found himself speeding up to meet her.

*

“Ashley.”

As always, Melanie greeted Ashley warmly when he arrived at her house, her cheeks flushed. Ashley smiled and greeted her lightly before opening the passenger side door of his car. Melanie was dressed in a more glamorous dress than usual, clearly expecting that today was the day. Ashley drove her to the reserved restaurant and asked.

“How’s the graduation preparation going? Is everything coming along well?”

Melanie nodded.

“Fortunately, I’ve already been hired. I guess you’ll be working at your father’s law firm, right?”

“Yes, that’s already settled.”

Ashley said nonchalantly. Just like the rest of his life, everything was set. Marrying Melanie was no different. Melanie, who didn’t realize his true feelings, smiled and said.

“Your father must be so proud of you.”

If someone else had said that, Ashley would have sneered without hesitation. But not Melanie. Instead, he muttered, “Yeah, probably,” and brushed it off.

Fortunately, they soon arrived at the restaurant. As always, having a meal and talking with her was both comfortable and enjoyable. Whenever he was with Melanie, Ashley often found himself smiling faintly. It gave him the confidence that he could continue to do well in the future.

It wasn’t until after their date, when he had dropped her off at her house, that Ashley took out the ring he had prepared. He got out of the car, stood in front of her house, and opened the ring case.

Even though she probably expected it, Melanie’s eyes widened in surprise. Ashley handed her the engagement ring he had purchased through his secretary and said,

“Melanie, will you marry me?”

He didn’t kneel down. It wasn’t a romantic setting, and there were no flowery words. It was just a typical proposal. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Nevertheless, Melanie’s face shone with joy. She covered her mouth with both hands and gasped for air before slowly nodding. Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Ashley’s lips.

Why does this woman seem so lovable?

Ashley placed the ring on her finger and smiled even more broadly. Melanie gazed at him with dazed eyes. Ashley took her hand with one hand and cupped her cheek with the other.

Melanie hesitated, closed her eyes, and waited for the kiss. Ashley naturally tilted his head. The distance between them grew smaller, and Ashley lowered his eyelids as well.

He could feel her trembling breath. Melanie’s whole body was tense as she awaited the kiss. He applied a light pressure on her cheek, pulling her in just as he was about to press his lips against hers.

Suddenly, she moved her ear.

In that instant, Ashley froze. He opened his eyes wide and froze. No way. It couldn’t be. There’s no way.

Then, once again, he felt her ear moving inside his fingers. Unable to deny it any longer, Ashley held his breath.

“Are you...?”

Melanie opened her eyes cautiously and looked up at him. Confused and unsure of what was happening, she stared at him with a puzzled expression. Ashley slowly turned his gaze toward her. When he realized where her eyes were locked, he noticed her panic and hurriedly cupped her ears with her hands.

“I-I’m sorry. I made a mistake...”

She stammered an apology, but Ashley didn’t hear it. He stared at her ears, his voice shaking with intensity.

“Do... your ears... move? Normally?”

Melanie, unable to hide her embarrassment, hesitated.

“Ah... yeah. When I’m nervous... my ears sometimes move. It doesn’t happen often...”

She kept talking, but Ashley couldn’t catch a single word. It felt as though he had been struck in the head, standing there motionless. Then, Ashley suddenly recalled a memory he hadn’t realized before.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

The first time he met her, the moment Melanie stopped him at the entrance. Why had he agreed to meet her again after she asked to? Why had he suggested they watch a movie together?

After meeting her a few times and talking a lot, each time the warm tone of her voice came out naturally, his smile appeared, and he felt his heart warm. He felt good. He felt love.

There was only one reason.

He had definitely seen it. The faint movement of her ears.

It was like lightning striking above his head, and he couldn’t move. Only then did Ashley realize why she was different from others, why he felt comfortable yet excited when he was with her, why he believed he could make it work with her.

Why he thought he had fallen for her.

That’s when he could no longer stay there.

*

Ashley didn’t remember how he got into the car. Before he knew it, he was driving down the road. He ignored the lanes and the signals. He just kept driving, faster and faster.

He thought he had forgotten.

He slammed on the accelerator, his breath ragged. Horns blared from all sides, but he ignored them.

Soon, the sea came into view, and he continued driving along the coast. The dark road, now that it was night, suddenly reminded him of that day. The day he had driven with Koi. If we had succeeded in running away then, would things have been different?

All the memories he had suppressed suddenly broke free and overwhelmed him. The old bicycle he rode to Ashley’s mansion, the ugly doll he gave her with a smile, the cheap instant soup he had made and fed her, the cheerleading skirt she wore while rushing around the ice rink, her blushing face when he kissed her, and...

The sweet voice saying, "I love you."

“...If I leave, you’ll be alone.”

Koi whispered in his ear.

“Let’s be together, Ash.”

“Ah... Aaaah!”

Finally, Ashley screamed. He thought he had forgotten everything, but he hadn’t. He hadn’t forgotten a single thing.

I still feel like I’m going crazy. Why, why?

You left me, but why can’t I forget you? Why can’t I?

Tears blurred his vision, and he couldn’t catch his breath.

Why did you leave me?

“...You have everything.”

At that moment, Koi’s face vividly resurfaced before his eyes. He couldn’t take it anymore and slammed on the brakes.

You’re wrong, Koi. I have nothing.

The wheels screeched as they slid across the road.

All I had was you, but now I have nothing. No one, nothing.

Because I lost you.

Inside the car, having barely stopped, Ashley gasped for breath, recalling.

You promised you’d stay by my side. You promised you’d be with me forever, so why?

Tears rose again, and he covered his mouth with both hands. He couldn’t bear it. He threw his head back and covered his eyes with his palm. Why didn’t you choose me back then?

“...If I leave, Dad will be alone.”

Why? Why? Why?

Tears never stopped and kept overflowing.

“Ah, aaah... aaah...”

Why did you make promises you couldn’t keep? Why did you do that from the start? Why did you say you liked me? Why did you say you’d stay by my side? Why. Why. Why.

Why would you throw me away so easily?

“...I’m sorry, Ash.”

His breath caught in a ragged sob. Ashley wailed, unable to stop the tears.

When I see you again...

Ashley clenched his teeth, trying desperately to swallow the rising sobs. But the tears kept spilling from his lips. He bit down hard on his lower lip and clenched his fists.

I’ll make you regret it, that you left me.

Far in the distance, the sun slowly began to rise.

End of Part 1